Saturday, January 18, 2014

The World's Best Fabric & Textiles Stores

I was in a favourite fabric store yesterday, which has the charming name of Odette. It's the smaller sister store of the hugely popular Scarlett Jones in Hawthorn. [scarletjonesmelbourne.blogspot.com] The charming girls and I struck up an animated conversation about our love for linen, as they explained the differences between French, Belgium and Irish. (French is thicker; Irish is finer.)

Then the most glamorous, elegantly svelte woman wandered in, wearing a linen ensemble so fabulous we all stopped talking immediately. She revealed that the long, narrowly cut linen pinafore and pants had been made by Amanda Tabberer (daughter of Maggie and the author of My Amalfi Coast), and had long been one of her favourite outfits. She'd owned the two pieces for years, she confessed, and had even worn them gardening. (My friend Fiona laughed at me on this blog the other day for suggesting linen for gardening, and I admit I was sceptical until I saw this woman's outfit: it was incredibly beautiful and clearly hardy after years of dead-heading the roses.)

The glamorous linen lady then told us what the colour of her outfit was – "Humble Potato".

"You should have seen the other colours – fuchsia and such, ugh," she said as she twisted her nose in horror. I wanted to say: "I would have like to have seen the fuchsia" but didn't dare. Clearly Humble Potato was the only colour one should be seen wearing. (See colour palette above.) I sense I have a lot to learn about the world of linen.

Curiously, the most popular post on this blog was the one on fabrics late last year. Obviously there are lots of other fabric lovers out there.

So here are a few textile links, fabric sources and stores around the world to inspire you.

(3 images above from my linen pile. Store pix from Odette.)

NB If you're attending the Trade Secrets Garden Fair in Connecticut in May this year, be sure to wear some linen there. It's a linen lover's kinda place...

3 comments:

well i won't be allowed into the Linen Lover's Club because I am partial to a bit of strong colour on my linen too….(although also love the natural colours…heck, i love it all, and used oodles of the stuff in my projects….good fabrics maketh the room)

FORTHCOMING BOOKS

LONDON SECRETS, an illustrated guidebook to London published by Images Publishing (US / Australia), late 2016/early 2017. (A companion to the bestselling PARIS SECRETS.) Now available to pre-order on Amazon.

BEYOND THE ROCK: THE STORY OF JOAN LINDSAY AND THE MYSTERY OF PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK, a biography of the bestselling novel and the reclusive author who wrote it, published by Echo / Five Mile Press (part of Swedish / UK group Bonnier) in early 2017.

Plus a garden book for a major publisher, and other ongoing projects.

WELCOME TO THE LIBRARY

Janelle McCulloch is a journalist, author and photographer of more than 20 books on architecture, interior design, travel and gardens, including several bestselling design titles. OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.janellemcculloch-officialwebsite.com

TORY BURCH IN COLOR

NEW YORK IN STYLE (2014)

PROVENCE IN THE AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER

PROVENCE BOOK ON THE COVER OF THE AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER (NATIONAL BROADSHEET)

NEW YORK IN QANTAS MAGAZINE OCT 2014

NEW YORK IN STYLE IN QANTAS MAGAZINE OCT 2014 (Click on image for link and mini NY shopping guide)

PARIS BOOK & MIRANDA KERR IN THE COVETEUR

DESIGN IN BLACK & WHITE IN US VOGUE

DESIGN IN BLACK & WHITE IN US VOGUE

GARDENESQUE TOURS

www.gardenesquetours.com

A FEW NICE REVIEWS…

Take a stroll through the real Paris with Janelle McCulloch's beautifully photographed and gorgeously packaged book. Visually rich and totally inspiring, Paris is a treasure for lovers of art, style, design and food. Anthropologie New York

More secret addresses from the well-travelled Janelle McCulloch, Paris Secrets is an ode to the City of Light. C’est si bon! Australian Vogue

The City of Love can be grimy, chaotic and a rip-off but Janelle McCulloch gives Paris buff and shine. Lisa Carapiet, The Australian Financial Review

One of the loveliest books to arrive on my desk this year… Holly Kerry Forsyth (on Country Estates of Australia) in The Weekend Australian newspaper.

For Francophiles, Janelle McCulloch's words and photographs in Provence and the Cote D'Azur deliver a decent French fix. Anyone unsure exactly what appeals to so many about the south of France is most likely to be convinced of the region's charm, beauty and style after perusing McCulloch's photo-filled tome. Adelaide Advertiser newspaer.

The prettiest guesthouses and hotels in Provence… The Weekend Australian newspaper (front cover).

In her recent book, Design in Black and White, Janelle McCulloch writes that black and white is being rediscovered. One of the reasons for this revival is that black and white is impervious to fashion.” Simon Caterson, The Weekend Australian newspaper.

Janelle McCulloch's writes with the heart of a romantic. How could anyone not enjoy seeing Paris through her eyes? Peggy Kopman-Owens, Amazon.

I loved this book. It's definitely the most interesting guidebook for Paris I've ever read. She mentioned a lot of really interesting shops and museums. The pictures are stunning and her writing isn't half bad. (I really liked how she wrote about the character of each arrondissement.) Good job Janelle McCulloch! Amanda M. Amazon

If you haven't yet visited Paris, this is the book that will make you want to get there before you die. As you delve into the well thoughtout pages you will practically feel the Parisian atmosphere and picture the offbeat, out-of-the-way spots and the famous landmarks! In a word, this book is: Captivating! Angus & Robertson website.

McCulloch captures the delight of these gardens {in a book that] provides the reader with a wealth of ideas. Chicago Botanic Garden, on The Modern Kitchen Garden

Her latest book is a visual feast of more than 500 glorious photographs of both classical and modern designs. ABC Radio on The Modern Kitchen Garden